“In what this ruffian says.”

“No,” said Hilary, “there’s nothing in it, though what there may be if people give me credit for what there isn’t, is another thing.”

Stephen digested this remark, which hurt him.  He saw that his suspicions had been fathomed, and this injured his opinion of his own diplomacy.

“You mustn’t lose your head, old man,” he said at last.

They were crossing the bridge over the Serpentine.  On the bright waters, below, young clerks were sculling their inamoratas up and down; the ripples set free by their oars gleamed beneath the sun, and ducks swam lazily along the banks.  Hilary leaned over.

“Look here, Stephen, I take an interest in this child—­she’s a helpless sort of little creature, and she seems to have put herself under my protection.  I can’t help that.  But that’s all.  Do you understand?”

This speech produced a queer turmoil in Stephen, as though his brother had accused him of a petty view of things.  Feeling that he must justify himself somehow, he began: 

“Oh, of course I understand, old boy!  But don’t think, anyway, that I should care a damn—­I mean as far as I’m concerned—­even if you had gone as far as ever you liked, considering what you have to put up with.  What I’m thinking of is the general situation.”

By this clear statement of his point of view Stephen felt he had put things back on a broad basis, and recovered his position as a man of liberal thought.  He too leaned over, looking at the ducks.  There was a silence.  Then Hilary said: 

“If Bianca won’t get that child into some fresh place, I shall.”

Stephen looked at his brother in surprise, amounting almost to dismay; he had spoken with such unwonted resolution.

“My dear old chap,” he said, “I wouldn’t go to B. Women are so funny.”

Hilary smiled.  Stephen took this for a sign of restored impersonality.

“I’ll tell you exactly how the thing appeals to me.  It’ll be much better for you to chuck it altogether.  Let Cis see to it!”

Hilary’s eyes became bright with angry humour.

“Many thanks,” he said, “but this is entirely our affair.”

Stephen answered hastily: 

“That’s exactly what makes it difficult for you to look at it all round.  That fellow Hughs could make himself quite nasty.  I wouldn’t give him any sort of chance.  I mean to say—­giving the girl clothes and that kind of thing—–­”

“I see,” said Hilary.

“You know, old man,” Stephen went on hastily, “I don’t think you’ll get Bianca to look at things in your light.  If you were on—­on terms, of course it would be different.  I mean the girl, you know, is rather attractive in her way.”

Hilary roused himself from contemplation of the ducks, and they moved on towards the Powder Magazine.  Stephen carefully abstained from looking at his brother; the respect he had for Hilary—­result, perhaps, of the latter’s seniority, perhaps of the feeling that Hilary knew more of him than he of Hilary—­was beginning to assert itself in a way he did not like.  With every word, too, of this talk, the ground, instead of growing firmer, felt less and less secure.  Hilary spoke: